“Yes, yes, my good Mr. Crapp; but I must speak plainer, I see. I want to find out who is to be at the loss of the money—the 50l. odd.”
“Why, I suppose I must be—of course, mustn’t I?”
“I don’t know. Let us see how the facts and the law stand. I hope I can show that not my client, but the bank, must bear the loss of the cash.”
“Oh, I see your drift; but how is that to be made out?”
“Why, suppose you left your drawer open—just suppose, you know, it had so happened—and that you left your cheque-book available to your clerk.” (Here the attorney drew breath, and looked critically at his client.) “Suppose that he tore out a blank cheque, and filled it up, and wrote your signature under the order to pay, that would be forgery, you know.”
“Yes, I know that.”
“Then you would not have to lose the money. The banker would lose it.”
“Would he?”
“Yes; because if he pays a forged cheque, the consequences are his, not yours.”
Mr. Crapp was bewildered by the strength of his new enlightenment.